Philip Heller Sachs, 92, one of the oldest members of Md. State Bar Association

July 01, 1998|By Fred Rasmussen | Fred Rasmussen,SUN STAFF

Philip Heller Sachs, a Baltimore attorney and one of the oldest members of the Maryland State Bar Association, died Sunday of respiratory failure at Blakehurst Life Care Community in Towson. The former Northwest Baltimore resident was 92.

Mr. Sachs, whose specialty was trusts, estates and zoning law, began practicing law in 1928 after graduating from the University of Maryland Law School and gaining admission to the bar. He retired in 1996.

He was a member of the Baltimore law firm of Hooper, Kiefer & Cornell, which for many years was at 10 Light St.

Duncan Cornell, a former partner who has a private practice in Towson, recalled Mr. Sachs as "highly respected" and an "honest and sincere fellow who was a pleasure to work with."

He also admired Mr. Sachs' ability to "stick to a job. He was a very punctual and orderly guy."

"He was always willing to give guidance," said Ira K. Himmel, who joined the firm of Hooper, Kiefer and Sachs fresh out of law school in 1965. "He was a true gentleman who was both kind and helpful. One thing he always said was, 'You have to give more than you take.'

"He wasn't an aggressive man and was rather mild-mannered. He was the kind of lawyer who could get a point across without being aggressive," Mr. Himmel said.

Mr. Sachs preferred the more cerebral aspect of the law to the rough-and-tumble of the courtroom.

"He never enjoyed going into the courtroom," said his son, Philip E. Sachs of Pikesville.

Born and raised on Linden Avenue in Bolton Hill, Mr. Sachs graduated from City College high school in 1921 and earned a bachelor's degree from the Johns Hopkins University in 1925. He served with the Coast Guard during World War II and was discharged with the rank of lieutenant.

In 1961, Gov. J. Millard Tawes appointed him to the newly created Metropolitan Transit Authority.

He later served as chairman of the five-member panel and resigned in 1967, explaining that it "was time for new ideas and new thoughts."

nTC He was a member of the Baltimore Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals from 1955 to 1959 and chairman from 1970 to 1980. From 1970 to 1972, he was president of the City Criminal Justice Commission.

He was a member of the American and Baltimore City bar associations, and had been a member of the Mount Washington Improvement Association. He belonged to the Suburban Club for 74 years, where he played golf, and the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation.

Services were yesterday.

He also is survived by his wife of 37 years, the former Beverly Legum; a daughter, Marcy A. Sparrow of Baton Rouge, La.; a stepson, Dr. Andrew London of Baltimore; nine grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.